Ella May and the Wishing Stone - Tapa dura

..".Fagan believably captures the delicate balance of friendship in the very young and lets the story play out with welcome complexity. Côté's illustrations are simple without being cartoonish, demonstrating the same warm understanding of childhood. Thoughtful and Touching"
--Kirkus Reviews

..".Cary Fagan... does a great job here with both the fun, engaging story, and the fine tricks of repetition and structure that make Ella May and the Wishing Stone ideal for early reader. Geneviève Côté's watercolour illustrations are lively and simple, focusing on the kids themselves and hewing closely to the narrative.... The net result is an original and imaginative treatment of one of the hardest lessons of early childhood -sharing -in a colourful package that's likely to charm kids and adults alike."
--Quill & Quire

"Côté's...illustrations drive the story along with light and expressive outlines and wash effects... children won't have any difficulty following the action, and they'll recognize Ella's conflicting impulses."
--Publishers Weekly

..".the little girl uses her imagination to reconnect with her friends, and realizes that they are far more important than wishes. Ultimately, she is able to grant everyone's wishes, including her own."
-The Waterloo Region Record

..".The charming drawings by Geneviève Côté depict a late summer's day on the sidewalk. It's easy to forgive Ella May when she finally comes to her senses and realizes that friends are much more important than possessions...."
--Montreal Review of Books

One day, Ella May finds a stone that has a line going all-all-all the way around it. Surely a stone this special must grant wishes, she decides. Soon she is busy making wishes and bragging about them. When her friends want to share the fun, Ella May objects. But she soon learns that keeping the stone for herself is a sure way to lose friends. By using her imagination – much more powerful than any stone – she is able to grant everybody’s wishes, including her own.

Cary Fagan’s witty and sharply observed story will delight young readers who are beginning to explore the pleasures and challenges of sharing and friendship.